Ecological balance after the permanent diversion of a small polluted river into the main sewer of a large city.

The benthic communities established on soft substrata off the outlet of the main sewer of the city of Marseilles were investigated in June 1980 and January 1981; this was about a year and a half after the permanent diversion of a polluted river into the sewer. Although the quantity of pollutants doe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine environmental research 1984-01, Vol.12 (2), p.83-111
Main Authors: Bellan, G, Bourcier, M
Format: Article
Language:fre
Subjects:
Marine
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Summary:The benthic communities established on soft substrata off the outlet of the main sewer of the city of Marseilles were investigated in June 1980 and January 1981; this was about a year and a half after the permanent diversion of a polluted river into the sewer. Although the quantity of pollutants does not seem to have been appreciably modified within these communities, it was noted, in comparison with the former state: a decrease in the number of species and individuals of roughly 50 to 25% according to the stations (except for the one nearest the outlet); a perceptible decrease of the diversity and similarity indices; an increase in the dominance of muddy substratum species. All of these observations demonstrate degradation of the communities.
ISSN:0141-1136